Danijel Lg

Admin

Posts : 70057Age : 35Location : na dnu dna

Tamba Hali, LB, Kansas City Chiefs: Hali is one of the very best -- and chronically underrated -- defensive players in the entire league. And he seems to get better every season. Hali is truly an elite edge pass-rusher.

In the past, Hali disrupted quarterbacks consistently even though the Chiefs didn’t have a dangerous edge presence on his opposite side. Now, with the emergence of Justin Houston, Hali should be primed for the best season of his fantastic career.

The relentless and explosive Hali is more than just a great pass-rusher, though. In fact, he plays the run right at him very well with excellent strength, leverage, hand-usage and recognition skills. But Hali also has to be accounted for as a backside pursuit player who can track down a running back from behind.

As quarterbacks around the league and especially those in the AFC West know all too well, Hali closes on his prey about as well as any upfield player in the league. As you can see from the players I have listed -- not to mention Romeo Crennel’s defensive mind -- I am expecting Kansas City to have one of the very best defenses in football this season.

Danijel Lg

Admin

Posts : 70057Age : 35Location : na dnu dna

Von Miller, LB, Denver Broncos: You could certainly make the argument that Miller was the best rookie in the NFL last season. Many thought Miller was miscast as a strongside linebacker in Denver’s 4-3 defense -- and I actually tend to agree, which just shows how amazing Miller would be as an every-down 3-4 outside linebacker.

Some of the very best players can transcend scheme. They are just great pretty much no matter where you put them. That applies to Miller, who is obviously renowned as a fantastic upfield pass-rusher, but also proved to be extremely effective as a run defender and even in coverage. He will only improve in these departments as well, especially with his coverage skills.

Much like Hali, Miller is an extreme handful versus the run at him or away. This guy is just flat out fast, and few pursue the ball carrier as well. But not only is Miller fast, he is also extremely quick, nimble, agile and demonstrates fantastic balance and awareness in every phase. If the Manning experiment works out and forces the Broncos’ opponents to throw the football more as a result, that will translate into more opportunities for Miller to attack the quarterback, which is what he does best.

After dominating for about the first two-thirds of his rookie season, Miller’s play dropped off a bit after he broke his thumb. Obviously that can have a major effect on a defensive player who relies on hand usage to take on blocks, defeat pass protectors and tackle the ball carrier as much as Miller. He also could have hit a bit of a rookie wall to go along with that substantial injury he suffered.

I do not expect his play to fall off in any manner in 2012. In fact, I am so high on Miller as an overall player that he will be my preseason prediction for the 2012 NFL Defensive Player of the Year.